What is the Difference Between Spina Bifida Occulta and Spina Bifida Cystica

The key difference between spina bifida occulta and spina bifida cystica is that spina bifida occulta is a mild form, and most people diagnosed with it won’t experience visible symptoms that affect their movement, while spina bifida cystica is a severe form and most people diagnosed with it experience visible symptoms that affect their movement.

Spina bifida is a birth defect in which there is incomplete closing of the spine and the membranes around the spinal cord. This takes place during the developmental stage of the pregnancy. There are two types of spina bifida as spina bifida occulta and spina bifida cystica.

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Spina Bifida Occulta
3. What is Spina Bifida Cystica
4. Similarities – Spina Bifida Occulta and Spina Bifida Cystica
5. Spina Bifida Occulta vs Spina Bifida Cystica in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Spina Bifida Occulta vs Spina Bifida Cystica

What is Spina Bifida Occulta?

Spina bifida occulta is a mild form of spina bifida. In this form, the outer part of some of the vertebrae is not completely closed. The splits in the vertebrae are not complete or too small that the spinal cord does not protrude outside. Moreover, spina bifida occulta is not associated with increased AFP protein. Many people with spina bifida occulta even do not know they have the condition. But some may experience signs and symptoms such as a visible birthmark or dimple on the skin at the lower part of the back, bowel or bladder problems (constipation and incontinence), back pain, muscle weakness, and scoliosis. Spina bifida occulta can result from a lack of folic acid during pregnancy, family history, a parent with undermanaged diabetes, obese parents, and a reaction to a medicine used to treat epilepsy like valproate or carbamazepine.

Spina bifida occulta can be diagnosed by medical history, physical examination, X-ray, MRI, and CT scan. Furthermore, treatment options for spina bifida occulta may include surgery to close the gap between the vertebrae of the backbone, physical or occupational therapy, using mobility equipment like a back brace, walker, or wheelchair, and taking medicines to treat bladder and bowel problems.

Spina Bifida Occulta vs Spina Bifida Cystica in Tabular Form

Figure 01: Spina Bifida Occulta

What is Spina Bifida Cystica?

Spina bifida cystica is a severe form of spina bifida, and most people diagnosed with it experience visible symptoms that affect their movement. This condition causes a visible fluid-filled cyst or sac on the lower part of the back of the baby. This is also known as meningocele or meningocele cyst. Moreover, in spina bifida cystica, an unfused portion of the spinal column allows the spinal cord to protrude through an opening. This is called myelomeningocele. The other symptoms of this condition include leg weakness, paralysis, bladder or bowel control problems (urinary tract infections and poor kidney function), pressure sores and skin irritations, abnormal eye movements, hydrocephalus, and difficulties in executive function and academic skills. The causes of spina bifida cystica include deficiency of folic acid during pregnancy, antiseizure medications, obese patients, poorly managed diabetes, alcohol misuse, and heredity (white or Hispanic people suffer more from cystica).

Spina bifida cystica can be diagnosed through family history, physical examination, blood test (increased AFP level), imaging tests like X-ray, MRI, CT scan, and genetic testing. Furthermore, treatment options for spina bifida cystica include standard surgery after delivery (fetoscopic surgery), installing a shunt surgically to provide a continuous drain for the excess cerebrospinal fluid produced by the brain, physical therapy, occupational therapy, learning support, pain relievers for the back pain, laxatives for bowel problems, antibiotics to prevent infections after surgery, and medicines to relax bladder problems.

What are the Similarities Between Spina Bifida Occulta and Spina Bifida Cystica?

Spina bifida occulta and spina bifida cystica are two different forms of spina bifida.
Children are predominantly affected by both conditions.
Both conditions can be caused due to deficiency of folic acid, problems in parents, and genetic influence.
Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
They are mainly treated through specific medicines and surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Spina Bifida Occulta and Spina Bifida Cystica?

Spina bifida occulta is a mild form, and most people diagnosed with it won’t experience visible symptoms that affect their movement, while spina bifida cystica is a severe form, and most people diagnosed with it experience visible symptoms that affect their movement. Thus, this is the key difference between spina bifida occulta and spina bifida cystica. Furthermore, spina bifida occulta is the most common form of spina bifida, while spina bifida cystica is the least common form of spina bifida.

The below infographic presents the differences between spina bifida occulta and spina bifida cystica in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Spina Bifida Occulta vs Spina Bifida Cystica

Spina bifida occulta and spina bifida cystica are two different forms of spina bifida. Spina bifida occulta is a mild form, and most people diagnosed with it won’t experience visible symptoms that affect their movement, while spina bifida cystica is a severe form, and most people diagnosed with it experience visible symptoms that affect their movement. So, this summarizes the difference between spina bifida occulta and spina bifida cystica.

Reference:

1. “Spina Bifida Occulta (Hidden Spina Bifida).” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Spina Bifida.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.